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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I always want to like Bellairs' books more than I do. I love his writing style, and the way he so effortlessly blends the serious with the humorous, but in the end, I like the ideas of his stories much more than I do the stories themselves. I saw another review say something to the effect of, "Great writing, but not much story", and I have to agree with that assessment. I read this one because (a) I saw it was standalone, and (b) I saw it was the only book he wrote for adult readers. What's interesting is that I kept thinking this book would be perfect for young kids.
I will say that Terry Pratchett and Robert Asprin owe a lot to this book, though, for Discworld and Myth Adventures, respectively. I doubt this was the first comedic fantasy novel, but the way it reads and the way it balances the humorous and the serious reminded me a lot of those two series.
I will say that Terry Pratchett and Robert Asprin owe a lot to this book, though, for Discworld and Myth Adventures, respectively. I doubt this was the first comedic fantasy novel, but the way it reads and the way it balances the humorous and the serious reminded me a lot of those two series.
A fun read, but it is disjointedly episodic, and the end is a disastrously unsatisfying deus ex machina.
A short read, but interesting. An original take on magic from the perspective of a wizard; when he is attacked by illusions the descriptions are truly wild and menacing. This wizard is no Gandalf or Merlin, but instead muddles through his magic. The force of will seems to be stronger than pure intelligence in this story.
A bit anachronistic for being set in another world (described in the first paragraphs of the book); it is clear that one or both wizards have visited Earth but with no indication of how or when. When the references happened, they were jarring.
A bit anachronistic for being set in another world (described in the first paragraphs of the book); it is clear that one or both wizards have visited Earth but with no indication of how or when. When the references happened, they were jarring.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Charming, entertaining, and a little bit confusing at times.